The nation observes the historic March 7 today in a fitting manner to commemorate the landmark speech of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
The ruling Awami League (AL) has planned an elaborate programme to mark the historic occasion.
The ruling AL will hoist national and party flags atop Bangabandhu Bhaban and party offices at 6:30 am, as stated in a press release Wednesday, reports BSS.
AL leaders and workers will lay wreaths at Bangabandhu’s portrait on the premises of Bangabandhu Bhaban at Dhanmondi at 7 am.
A discussion will be held at AL’s Dhaka District Office in the city’s Tejgaon area at 4 pm, with Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the cahir.
AL General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader have urged leaders and workers of the party, its associate bodies, and the people to observe the day with due respects across the country.
On March 7, 1971, the great leader, Sheikh Mujib, the architect of independent Bangladesh, in his historic address at a massive rally at the then Racecourse (now Suhrawardy Udyan), directed the freedom-loving Bangalees to wage a decisive struggle against the Pakistan occupation forces.
“Turn every house into a fortress, resist the enemy with everything you have … Having mastered the lesson of sacrifice, we shall give more blood. God willing [Inshallah], we shall free the people of this land,” Bangabandhu also said in his speech.
The speech inspired the Bengalis to prepare for a war of independence.
The Liberation War began 18 days later when the Pakistan Army launched “Operation Searchlight” against unarmed Bangalee civilians, intellectuals, students, politicians, and armed personnel on the night of March 25, 1971.
On October 30, 2017, UNESCO recognised the historic speech as part of the world’s documentary heritage, as the landmark fiery speech of Bangabandhu inspired the Bengalis to prepare for the War of Liberation in 1971.
It has been included in the Memory of the World International Register, a list of the world’s important documentary heritage maintained by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
In the 19-minute extempore speech before millions of people of former East Pakistan, Bangabandhu unequivocally said, “We spilled our blood … we are ready to shed more blood, the people of the country shall be freed, Inshallah!”
